tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702659934448838326.post1252459199297909604..comments2023-07-30T08:37:02.307-07:00Comments on The Leibowitz Society: Nine LivesLeibowitz Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05420328289777540352noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702659934448838326.post-46945475461390830832011-01-06T07:36:45.709-08:002011-01-06T07:36:45.709-08:00Glenn,
I did a little digging -- it looks like le...Glenn,<br /><br />I did a little digging -- it looks like less expensive/durable polymers will experience brittleness by losing atoms in gas form from the polymer structure. I've had some chemistry in college, but it's been a while and I'm not a chemist at any rate. If anything, it looks like they will last long enough to be not be an issue. <br /><br />The questions we've raised here -- like how long can a chemical compounds last or what would be needed to replace that compound -- are all things that I started the Leibowitz Society to address, so it's good to see that the questions are in fact getting asked. I would assume there's probably some engineers lurking in the woodwork.<br /><br />-JohnLeibowitz Societyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420328289777540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702659934448838326.post-40821789970842177802011-01-06T06:51:31.380-08:002011-01-06T06:51:31.380-08:00I don't know about the polymers in Glock frame...I don't know about the polymers in Glock frames, in my experience with synthetic ropes such as nylon and dacron, they lose about 50% of their strength in the first 5 years due to age alone, regardless of exposure to UV light, fuel or other chemicals. I've seen a lot of Glocks older than 5 years that were fine, so if it's an issue with them it's over a much longer time span. Of course, it would be easier to replace wood or steel gun parts in a post-industrial culture.<br /><br />As for ammo, I wouldn't give stored munitions more than 10 or 20 years of reliability. One would have to maintain the industrial base, not just stash a bunch. I'm not sure if the problem is the propellant, the primer, or the chemicals from the primers corroding the brass components.<br /><br />I think we can maintain the chemical process knowledge. I just question how much of modern chemical production literally depends on how much energy we can afford to add to the reactions to get the desired product. It's not an assertation on my part, it's an honest question. One I suspect that only an honest industrial Chemical Engineer could answer.<br /><br />GlennGlennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16509609643029842132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702659934448838326.post-38504525402534469772011-01-05T04:20:23.347-08:002011-01-05T04:20:23.347-08:00Glenn,
I agree that practice is crucial. I'v...Glenn,<br /><br />I agree that practice is crucial. I've had people talk about purchasing weapons for self-defense and when you ask them how often they practice, you get a blank look in return. If they bought golf clubs, they'd go to a driving range on a regular basis...<br /><br />Good point on the primers. I haven't looked much into the question of what would be sustainable and for how long. It's been my thinking for a while that we would see a return to a technology level around that of the 1700s, before the industrial revolution and the specialized production processes therein really took off. So, obviously, that would preclude a lot of chemical production. <br /><br />One other point I was thinking is the shelf life of production ammunition, as well as the weapons themselves. I've read things from people who have shied away from purchasing Glocks or other polymer-frame pistols because they're worried about the polymer breaking down over time from heat, etc. Any insights on that?Leibowitz Societyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420328289777540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702659934448838326.post-51240740481946542462011-01-04T20:24:16.378-08:002011-01-04T20:24:16.378-08:00Having used both the .45 and the 9mm pistols in th...Having used both the .45 and the 9mm pistols in the Service (I was in for the transition), I prefer the .45 even though I was more accurate with the 9mm. The 9's were new, and the .45's shot out Korean war leftovers... But it's a purely personal preference, and you're right about the magazine capacity. Still the old time cops managed with 6 shot revolvers. A little _regular_ practice will enable that. But ammo and maintenance need to be budgeted as an ongoing expense if the gun is to be more help than harm.<br /><br />As for sustainability, it's the absence of primers such as lead styphnate or fulminate of mercury that would force a reversion to muzzle loaders. Nitrocellulose (sp?) or gun cotton based propellants are not much harder to make than black powder, but do require more chemical knowledge. Still, there's a lot of chemical energy embedded in ammunition, and it's worth noting that black powder is the only explosive known or used before the widespread availability of fossil fuels.<br /><br />I'm not sure if any of the modern explosives or powders would be practical with an industrial base depending entirely on sustainable energy, even disregarding societal collapse and subsequent loss of knowledge.<br /><br />Glenn,<br />MarrowstoneGlennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16509609643029842132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702659934448838326.post-64007388732504544602011-01-02T18:26:23.960-08:002011-01-02T18:26:23.960-08:00There are several problems with shotguns, all of w...There are several problems with shotguns, all of which make them poor choices for defensive weapons, except in limited circumstances -- they are not reliable in the hands of inexperienced operators (pump actions can be short-stroked, semi-autos require maintenance that they may not get); recoil is punishing for pump-action shotguns unless you downgrade the caliber; the ammunition is bulky, expensive and people will likely carry fewer rounds; most shotguns are fairly slow to reload and don't carry a large number of rounds; they are very difficult to operate one-handed, a consideration if a person is wounded in either arm. <br /><br />As far as individual skill with weapons is concerned, I have seen training classes composed of people with limited familiarity with weapons who, after several hours of training time, were able to reliably an 8x11 piece of paper at seven yards. I have also gone shooting with an undercover narcotics officer who was barely able to hit a silhouette target at the same distance. So, at best, it varies, but training is available to people and if they're not willing to learn how to properly use a weapon for self-defense, then it probably doesn't matter much what you put in their hands -- they're still going to be ineffective with it.<br /><br />I think the problem really is a consideration of what people are going to have to deal with as the collapse occurs. The pattern which seems to be most likely is a sharp increase in random, predatory violence, meaning that people are going to have to be able to defend themselves in most places and most times. While there is some wisdom in Clint Smith viewing a handgun as what he uses to fight his way to a rifle, the reality is that this may simply not be an option for everyone and what they have at hand is going to be what they will either live or die with. In the modern pre-collapse world, most shootouts are over within a few seconds, the matter being decided by what someone has on them...the old adage is "Better the .22 with you, than the .45 you left at home." Here, I think it's "Better the pistol you have on you than the shotgun or rifle you left at home."<br /><br />Truthfully, I think the best anyone can expect is to never have to be put in a life and death situation. <br /><br />Peace back.Leibowitz Societyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420328289777540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702659934448838326.post-19313449644586065822010-12-31T20:21:34.906-08:002010-12-31T20:21:34.906-08:00Hitting a target with a handgun is not a simple pr...Hitting a target with a handgun is not a simple proposition. In fact, one might say the posession of a handgun in the hands of a novice is a dangerous proposition, especially when the gun is lage caliber discharge like a 9mm. It takes lots of practice to get the bullets to go anywhere remotely where you want them to go. You know how, in the movies, the protagonist can run away from a pack of bad guys and they'll all miss? Well, that's not to far off from reality. It's a product of lots of practice that makes a marksman with a handgun, and it's a rare skill at that.<br /><br />If one would like an actual anti-zombie gun, narrow your search to the shotgun family of weaponry. The shorter the barrel, the more accuracy a novice can command.<br /><br />Peace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702659934448838326.post-48375199292304641952010-12-31T07:28:23.173-08:002010-12-31T07:28:23.173-08:00Anonymous,
I agree that it's not easy -- you&...Anonymous,<br /><br />I agree that it's not easy -- you'll notice that I compared it to smokeless powder. In addition to manufacturing the powder, people are going to have to learn how to manufacture black powder firearms, itself not really a trivial task. Still, I see it as being likely that manufacture of black powder and black powder arms will eventually happen on a wide scale as the ability to manufacture modern arms and ammunition runs out. <br /><br />-JohnLeibowitz Societyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420328289777540352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702659934448838326.post-23248597705551317352010-12-31T06:22:26.742-08:002010-12-31T06:22:26.742-08:00`Black powder isn't that easy. The major compo...`Black powder isn't that easy. The major component is potassium nitrate, which has to be "Grown",rather being dug out of a mine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com